Mop or the like



Feb. 22, 1944,

w. HERTZBERG MOP OR THE' LIKE Filed oct; 31, 1942 JNVENTOR. berg TORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES4 PATENT AOFFICE MOP OR THE LIKE William Hertzberg, New York, N. Y.

Application October 31, 1942, SeriallNa 464,013

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-148) This invention relates generally to the art of cleaning and more particularly to a novel cleaning implement. I

Among the principal objects of this inventn lies the provision of a combination duster and polishing mop of novel construction, presenting a high degree of utility and adaptability for diiferent cleaning and/or polishing operations.

A still further object lies in a device of the class described in which the duster element thereof acts as a cushioning support of the polishing or mop element thereof.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a novel combination duster and mop which is readily converted from one type of operation to another and which by reason of the detachable interengagement of the parts may bereadily d ismantled for cleaning or specic uses.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a device of the class described in which the use of metal in the fabrication thereof is reduced to a minimum and which uses a relatively large Droportion of material not needed for war or defense purposes.

A feature of the invention lies in the arrangement of rows of duster elements thereon which permits the ready infiltration of cleaning solvents for the renewing of usefulness of the device after it has become laden with soil.

An advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the device is very easily maneuverable so that it may be used for a great Variety of cleaning and polishing purposes.

By reason of the simplied construction thereof, this invention may be economically produced on a large scale at low cost, so that it may have a consequent wide sale, use anddistribution.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, constituting a material part hereof, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views in which: 1

Figure 1 is a frontvelevational View, partly in" section, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the device of Figure l, and is partly broken away so as to show some of the Darts in vertical section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the duster element partly broken away to show some of the parts in section.

Figure 4` is anv enlarged vertical sectional view as might be seen fromthe plane 4 4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 on Figure 1.

In accordance withthe invention the cleaning implement generally indicated by `numeral Ill includes a handle II,'a duster element I2, and a mop element I3. l l

The `duster'element I2 is preferably constructed by engaging between a pair` of -spaced and parallel wires I4 and I5 a plurality of duster members I6. The wires are preferably composed of a material not deleteriously affected by watei` or other solvent materials commonly used in the cleaning operations. vI have found that galvanized steel, or brass are good materials for this purpose. Stainless steel, or-Monel metalmay also be` used. The duster members are preferably composed of cotton fibres of long staple which may be inthe form of a continuous Wick or roving which is out' to lengths substantially slightly greater than the diameterof the duster element, taken through the wires I4 and I5. The wires I 4 andv I5Ik are twisted together (see Figure 3l tightlyIr compressing the center portions of the duster members I6 between them and securing the duster members in place. The wires I4 and I5 are preferablyA greater in length than twice the length of the duster element so that the wires as they emerge from the ends I9 of the duster element are bent upon themselves to form return portions I1 and I 8. 'I'he return portions are parallel to the center duster members securing portion and are spaced therefrom a distance substantially less than one-half the length of the duster members. This results in the concealment of the return portions I'I and I8 by the duster members I6 and in the use of the duster element I2 prevents these metal parts( I 6 and I 1) from contact- "ing the article being dusted. The inner opposed ends ,of the return portions I'I and I8 are bent upon themselves at right angles to extend up wardly to forml thefduster element supporting shank2I. f

'I 'he handle IIl may be o f any suitable construction and is preferablyvin` the form of a Wooden rod having a ferrule 22 and an upwardly extending central orifice 23. The diameter of the orice 23 is preferably slightly less than the greatest total diameter of the two ends of the return portions I I and I8, as they form the shank 2l. The duster element may thus be positively secured to the handle II by inserting the shank 2| into the orifice 23.

Turning now to the mop element I3, this is in the form of an envelope. The mop element includes a rst panel 24 and a second panel 25. The panels 2Q and 25 are preferably composed of a woven fabric having a high degree of absorbency and of sufficient thickness and tightness of weave to maintain the shape thereof. The panels 2d and 25 are preferably rectangular in shape and are joined continuously along the abutting edges 28 and 21 thereof.

rlhis construction may be readilyeffected by folding a single piece of cloth along the medial transverse axis thereof and by the installation of two separate continuous rows of stitching 2i) and 38.

At the upper portions thereof, the mop element. is provided with a handle receivingorice.. 28. Since the orifice 28 is subject to a certain amount of wear, it may be reinforced-.by a suitableitaper edging (not shown) Well known in the art to which the present invention relates. surfaces of' the vpanels likand-Y 25y are` provided with spaced' and parallel.J rows. 35of.rnopmem bers ill Themopxmembersfare preferably; composed -ofI aligned rowsfof. transverselyv arranged wicking or yarn pieces, each: row-being secured in place'upon the outerf surfaceof'said.v panels by a line of stitching 32-Which engages theY faces :i3 and onthezparielsZ-dand- 2.5.' TheseY working surfaces-are highly absorbent'soethat. they may' act in.botlrcleaning.` or polishing cal pacities. The: verticali positioning; of thefrows 3.5 ofrnopmeinbersel. forms-channels Siiv (see-Figure l) through'which lcleaning solvents may readily pass z when the: mopvv element is; laundered forv reuse after it hasfrbecomefladen with soil.

Operation' when. the. device. is used forvv dusting Smau, su, faces or intricately. shapedvpieces,` the. mop element is removed by passing the same-upwardly The duster. element. I 2. hasV a relatively straight cylindrical bottom surface. which maybe used inra squeegeemanner.- as well.

over the handle Il..

as relatively pointed bentends |.9,-whichmay be.

poked into the crevicesvof radiators,..Venetian.

blinds; stair tread corners,. and thelike. When` it is desired. to either dust.. or polish largesurfaces such as Walls,ffloors. and the like the mop.. element may be placed so, as to encase. the duster element by pushing theimop element down over the handle. H so that. the. handle penetrates orice 23. The. mop elementis maintainedin-operative position both. by gravity and. by .'a.. certain amount. of friction which.- takes placev by Com-- pressionbetween the. ends 1.9 ofthe duster elementr i2. and the ends 38fof the .duster members` on one. hand, and'x the inner surfacesA 39.. andil of the upper portions 4l and"42 ofthe panels 24,

and 25 onthe other hand.y Thedusterelement acts as a cushioninglor resilient. support` for the, upper. portions 4|and 42,(` said.A upperportions being thereby` given airounded' externalv contour The outer Sill' which is not only effective for cleaning similarly shaped areas but also prevents damage which rmight otherwise occur by hard portions within the duster element striking against chair legs, table legs and the like.

The lower portions 43 and Ml of the mop element I3 are relatively flexible and this flexibility is limited solely by the stiffness of the panels 24 and 25. Thus as the cleaning implement l0 is used with-.themop element in place, whenthe device is drawn or pushed over a surface being treated, the flexible lower portions 43 and 64 may undulate to conform to said surface so that the same may be easily cleaned, waxed or polished.

Obviously the present device may be used dry, wet with water or wet with any other desirable solutions, such as sulfonted alcohol cleaning solutions onother. well'known detergenets. Where desiredeither the duster element or the mop element or both may be impregnated with any suitable. oilsor waxes or combinations thereof..

It may thus be seen that Iy have` provided a novel and economical cleaning instrumentwhioh isextremely versatile. -Not only may. this device be adapted for various types of-.cleaning or polishing operations'butalso-with articles having various shapes and. sizes.

By reason of the separable.construction-.tl'iere-l of,-the mop element may be easily and quickly removed from-the dusterelenient.v Since Ythe mop element i3 is completely removable from the combinedY handle and duster. element, where itis desired todust or polish a relatively fragile article,- the mopVV elementmay be used as a mittby placing. the users hand upwardly throughthe bottom opening 502 I- wish itV to be understoodrthat- I. do not desire. to be limited'tov the` exactdetails of l construction.

shown and. described,. for. obvious modifications 7 willloccurto aperson skilled inthe art.

I claim:

A combination cleaning. instrument c0rnprising: an elongated. duster element having a projection extending at the center of said duster ele.- ment and at. right angles theretoto formabandle; a mop element composed. of" a singlersheet of. material of greaterlengththan the transverse periphery ofthe dustery element, said` sheet being folded upon itself about its. transverse medial axis to form' a straight topv portion; said top portion having a central orice disposed in said. axis;` the opposed free longitudinal edges of said sheet being interconnected by vertical rows of stitches; the free lower transverse edges of said sheet E and the portions thereof contiguous thereto being flexible and free of contact with said duster element; absorbent mopmembers on the exterior surfacesl of said mop element; said duster element in the engaged' position thereof'being in" sertable between the'unconnected free transverse lower edges of the mo-p element', said projection being passabe through said orice, the duster element forming a= cushion support forV the upper portion of the` mopelement; said dusterv element f in the disengaged position thereof', beingv itself.

separately usable; and the mop element being separately usable asa cleaning. mitt.

WILLIAM l-IER'IZBERG.; 

